Enjoying every last second of The Who in Toronto

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The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday. Roger Daltrey, left, and Pete Townshend perform. (Jack Boland/Toronto Sun)

(30) _ 010_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey and the tambourines. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 016_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Pete Townshend performs songs from the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 006_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend perform the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 028_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) The Who take the stage for the Quadrophenia concert at the ACC with frontman Roger Daltrey on the big screen.(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 013_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey (L) and Pete Townshend perform the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 008_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey (R) and Pete Townshend perform the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 017_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey is "The Face" on Stage. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 004_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. Pictured) Frontman Roger Daltrey launches into "Can You see the Real Me.". (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 021_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Pete Townshend performs songs from the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 024_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) An image of original Who bassist John Entwistle - now deceased - and Pete Townshed circa 1960s can be seen above the stage at the ACC. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 022_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) The Who's Quadropehnia tour with the entire stage and massive backdrops showing off The Who from the 1960s. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 018_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey is "The Face" on stage as images from the Brighton riots between "Mods" and "Rockers" appear behind him.. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 030_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) The Who guitarist Pete Townshend up on the big screen behind the stage..(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 025_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) The Who onstage at the ACC. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 029_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) The Who take the stage for the Quadrophenia concert at the ACC with frontman with guitarist Pete Townshend kicking into his "windmill" guitar playing. .(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 020_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey is "The Face" on stage as images from the Brighton riots between "Mods" and "Rockers" appear behind him.. (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 015_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Pete Townshend performs songs from the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 014_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey (L) and Pete Townshend perform the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

(30) _ 012_TheWho _The Who brought their Quadrophenia tour to the ACC on Friday, November 23 with a rousing rendition of the ultimate "Mod" album that highlighted the life of fictional character Jimmy living through the mid-1960s and life in London and Brighton. (Pictured) Roger Daltrey (L) and Pete Townshend perform the Quadrophenia album . (Jack Boland / Toronto Sun / QMI Agency)

The Who, Toronto, Nov. 23, 2012

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If, as Pete Townshend told me himself in a pre-show interview, athleticism is the key to The Who’s live show, then the 67-year-old guitarist and 68-year-old frontman Roger Daltrey are holding up rather well judging from their Air Canada Centre show on Friday night.

Townshend and Daltrey, the remaining original members of the once wild, defiant and loud veteran British rock band, may not jump around and destroy instruments like they once did in their heyday but they were playing and singing well enough - with Daltrey looking particularly good in an undone white shirt - as they took a crowd of 11,500 through their classic 1973 mod rock opera Quadrophenia in its entirety followed by some of their biggest hits.

And whenever Townshend or Daltrey performed their trademark stage moves - the windmill guitar stroke or the twirling microphone, respectively - the audience went nuts.

“We always been really happy to come to Toronto,” said Townshend, who finally adressed fans during band introductions after Quadrophenia was finished.

“It seems like a second home in many ways. We used to have this superstition - if we started in Toronto, it would be a good tour. Unfortunately it was always accompanied with some veneral diseases. I’m joking, of course. We always had great times here.”

Joined by as many as eight other musicians (notably Ringo’s son Zak Starkey on drums, Townshend’s brother Simon on guitar and sometime lead vocals, and Pino Palladino on bass), it was a huge, impressive production backed up by tight playing and even some nostalgia.

There were six video screens - three circular - slick lighting, three keyboardists, two horn players - and enough vintage Who stills and video to almost make up for the absence of original drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle.

Almost.

Video of Entwistle’s amazing bass solo during the Quadrophenia standout song 5:15 p.m. made you long for the magical Who foursome all the more even if both Townshend and Daltrey both came alive particularly during that tune.

And when video of Moon appeared singing the lyrics to Bellboy from Quadrophenia things got more than a little nostaglia inducing.

The other three big Quadrophenia standouts proved to be The Real Me, Doctor Jimmy and the dramatic album closer Love Reign O’er Me.

The pay off, for some, anyway, who maybe wanted to hear just the hits, was that after the main Quadrophenia section, The Who went straight into anthem after anthem with dazzling versions of Who Are You, Behind Blue Eyes, Pinball Wizard, Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again.

Then the rest of the band left Daltrey and Townshend alone to perform Tea & Theatre acoustically in a final farewell after two hours and twenty minutes.

“It’s been our great pleasure to entertain you,” said Daltrey, lingering with Townshend on stage to huge cheers from the audience. “I’m enjoying every last second of my career as a singer.”

And we were enjoying every last second of their show.

The good news is that if you missed the ACC gig, The Who are returning for a Feb. 19 stop at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton.